Red Bull scrambles behind closed doors as Verstappen’s patience wears thin and a Mercedes exit clause looms over the championship fight.
Is Max Verstappen on his way out of Red Bull? With the team’s performance sliding and Mercedes waiting in the wings, the tension is real.
As McLaren celebrated a surprise one-two finish with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Red Bull’s top brass was already huddled in an emergency meeting. Team principal Christian Horner, advisor Helmut Marko, and senior engineers Pierre Waché and Paul Monaghan were seen in serious discussion after a tough night under the lights.
Verstappen himself skipped the debrief, leaving his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, to attend instead.
“Not right now,” Verstappen told reporters when asked if he had joined the meeting. “I told Raymond to go. I didn’t feel like it.”
He downplayed his sixth-place finish in Bahrain, saying the team had been warned. “I said after winter testing the gap was half a second—and here we are. I was right.”
Horner was mostly silent post-race, leaving Marko to explain the situation. “The car is unbalanced, and we don’t know why,” he said. “It looks like an aerodynamic issue.”
Ahead of the next race in Suzuka, Red Bull is rethinking its entire approach to race weekends. “We need to change how we operate on Fridays,” Marko admitted. “More aggressive engine usage, better free practice programs—we need clarity.”
He urged the team to reflect and own the problem. “The car isn’t competitive. But why? That’s what we must find out.”
Verstappen, who openly suggested in Bahrain that his title hopes may already be over, won’t get a quick fix. “In the short term, we can’t do anything,” Marko said. “We might improve in Europe. But right now, we’re not in a position to fight for the championship. And that’s a big problem—because we risk losing Max.”
Rumors swirl that if Verstappen falls outside the top three in the standings, a contract exit clause could be triggered.
“The concern is real,” Marko said. “He wants to win. We’re worried. And yes, things are happening behind the scenes.”
Horner struck a more measured tone, despite Verstappen’s frustrations. “It’s a 24-race season. We’re only eight points off the lead. Max fought for every point in a tough car. What matters is the end result.”
But with Mercedes steadily improving and their 2026 engine project gaining praise, team boss Toto Wolff was asked if he’s now seriously eyeing Verstappen.
“We’re keeping our feet on the ground,” Wolff replied. “We’re happy with where we are.”
The wildcard in this scenario is George Russell. His contract is up soon, and he’s in top form—so even if Mercedes wants Verstappen, a reshuffle won’t be easy.
Still, former driver Ralf Schumacher believes it’s just a matter of time. “Red Bull’s era is ending. Their only hope is to win at Imola. But Verstappen wants to win now. He’ll go where the best car is. And right now, that’s not Red Bull.”
With Verstappen rumors heating up, some within the team believe major changes may be needed—perhaps even replacing key figures.
Is a shake-up on the way?
“That’s not a question for now,” Marko said.
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